The German Food Diary Day 11 – 13

The past 3 days were quite eventful, finally Mike joined me here in Germany and after over 20 years I got to see my uncles and cousins again and that was a great day. In traditional German style we got together for an entire day and night, no 2 hour visits for us Germans when we get together, our get togethers usually last 10 hours!

Thursday July 31st: Courtyard Party

On Thursday I met almost all of my parents neighbors at a birthday party in their courtyard. Its a really nice community of 14 houses who are grouped together around a very nice and old courtyard of a historic brewery called The Hensen Brewery. Some of the buildings date back to the 18th century – quite impressive – and the neighbors are all very nice, helpful and supportive. Its a real relief for me to know that my parents have great neighbors who look out for each other and pretty much have something social going on every week. Not that my parents couldn’t keep themselves entertained but its good to know that when they get older and I am far away in Seattle, they can get immediate help until I can make my way over. Great relief for me that they have found a “second family” in their new home.

Dinner was a cold spicy beef salad.

Friday: Big Day – Mike arrives

Happy Day on Friday, we are preparing for Mikes arrival

and after 24 hours he finally made it!

First German dish for Mike on the menu: “Currywurst”. According to Wikipedia: Currywurst is a fast fooddish of German origin consisting of steamed, then fried porksausage (German: Knackwurst) whole or less often cut into slices and seasoned with curry ketchup, regularly consisting of ketchup or tomato paste topped with curry powder, or a ready-made ketchup seasoned with curry and other spices. The dish is often served with Pommes Frites.

The rest of the family enjoyed bacon and then apple pancakes for dinner. Saturday: Even bigger day: Family reunion

Saturday was a very special day for me, after over 20 years I got to see my cousin Tanja and Michael and their spouses Andreas and Simone. Also my uncle Horst and Heinz came to visit us. Mum got up at 6:00 a.m. to bake her famous “Blitzapfelkuchen” (literally translated lighting apple cake) and Plfaumenkuchen (Plum cake). Besides that she prepared many dishes for dinner. Its very traditional to invite your family to a Sunday “Kaffeetafel” (a set table with coffee and cake) and most of the time the family also stays for dinner. Mike was the grill master and we offered American Style Burgers, crisp pork belly, bacon wrapped pork tendorloin and a bunch of German salads like traditional Potato and Macaroni Salad.

I also learned about a “new” drink, new for me, but not so new in Germany, its called Hugo and its made with Champagne, mint, sparkling water, lime and Elderberry (Holunderbeere). Definitely something I have to bring back to the US.

Today is Sunday and I will skip the blog for one day since all of us have to relax from a long night celebrating with family!.